SENATOR BRUNO RENEWS GEN*NY*SIS PUSH TO MAKE N.Y. A BIOTECH JOBS LEADER

Senator Bruno unveiled his GEN*NY*SIS plan in December 2000 to help create new jobs for New Yorkers and to make our state an undisputed leader in research.

Twin Challenges of Bioterrorism and Economic Resurgence Increase Urgency for Action

Wednesday, March 13, 2002

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and members of the state Senate Majority today renewed their push to make New York a biotech jobs leader, unveiling a revised "Gen*NY*sis" biotech economic development program to better position the state�s economy for the future -- and take advantage of sharply increased federal funding for scientific research aimed at stemming terrorist attacks.

The five-year, $530 million Gen*NY*sis plan -- an acronym for Generating Employment Through New York Science -- seeks to exploit New York�s enviable stock of world-class research institutions, hospitals and universities by targeting state investments to help create jobs.

"Biotechnology is already producing scientific advances that are curing diseases, prolonging life and enhancing our lifestyles. Now biotechnology promises to help overcome new challenges that threaten the safety of our families and the security of our nation," said Senator Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "The sound, intelligent investments proposed in this plan will make sure that New York gains a foothold at the cutting-edge of this rapidly growing new industry and that federal investments in biotech research will be leveraged to help create jobs and stimulate New York�s economy."

Under president Bush�s leadership, federal funding for biotech research will more than double next year, to $27.3 billion, including more than $1.8 billion in new funding dedicated to improving prevention, detection, identification and response to bioterrorism agents, such as anthrax.

The Gen*NY*sis plan is designed to optimize New York�s ability to gain some of these funds, as well as billions in additional research spending by corporations, foundations, colleges and universities.

A centerpiece of the Senate plan is the creation of eight "Gen*NY*sis Centers of Excellence" to foster collaboration between research centers, universities and businesses with the goal of creating jobs and marketing scientific advances. The proposed clusters are located in the Capital District, Buffalo, Binghamton/Syracuse, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Westchester and at Cornell University.

The Senate plan is designed to complement Governor Pataki�s own Centers of Excellence initiative contained in his Executive Budget proposal.

Additionally, the Senate plan creates eight "Gen*NY*sis Zones," with tax and other job-creating incentives similar to the highly successful "Empire Zone" program. The proposed zones include:

1. Bronx, Westchester, Rockland and Orange Counties
2. Broome and Onondaga Counties
3. Erie County
4. Monroe County
5. Nassau and Suffolk Counties
6. Queens and New York Counties
7. Rensselaer County
8. Tompkins, Ontario, and Allegany Counties.

Businesses that locate within the zones are eligible for $90 million in tax and other incentives to help build their workforce, increase their competitiveness and help assure their success.

The Senate�s Gen*NY*sis proposal also includes $90 million to subsidize salaries of topnotch researchers and create a "James D. Watson Young Investigators Program" to attract bright, young rising stars of scientific research to New York institutions, and $85 million to bridge a gap in existing state business assistance programs that excludes biotech companies.

In addition to Senator Bruno, the Gen*NY*sis proposal was developed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ronald B. Stafford (R-C, Plattsburgh); Higher Education Chairman Kenneth P. LaValle (R-C, Port Jefferson); Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Chairman James S. Alesi (R-C, Monroe County) and Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon (R, Garden City), with the support of Senate Majority members.

The Senate was able to secure $10 million in the current year�s budget as a down payment on the Gen*NY*sis program.

"The recent mapping of the human genome has opened a broad range of possibilities for products, techniques and procedures that can vastly improve our quality of life, help eliminate disease and protect our national and personal security," Senator Bruno said. "As New York has led every other economic revolution in our history, we must be well-positioned to meet the unique challenges that this new industry presents, so that our citizens can share in the financial rewards of this revolution."

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